Shiveta & Adam

June 19, 2022

With Adam and Shiveta, we clicked immediately when we met. I knew they were passionate about community, about celebrating their multicultural day, and about making the day welcoming and comfortable for their vastly diverse friend group. They knew that with me, they’d get not just one way of doing things, but alternates to the traditional “rules” of a wedding.

They started out wanting a very simple backyard wedding at a friends beautiful lake home - dreaming of a sunset ceremony and everyone in sunset tones and easy garden party vibes. However, once I started asking the right questions (hello bathrooms!) and adding up costs as well as clarifying what would and wouldn’t be feasible, they quickly switched gears to preferring a venue! We started off exploring some casual, inexpensive venues that had some outdoor space - that would still give those “backyard” vibes. As we were about to sign off on one space, Adam nervously gives me a call - to let me know that Shiveta really really would like a much prettier & formal space and could we please reconsider our options? After some exploration, we settled on MIA, and this wedding from then on was referred to as the royal wedding!

Of course any royal couple needs a fitting royal seal - I designed a logo incorporating 3 elements that were significant to them - a lion, the fig tree, and a lotus. This was used in most of their stationary and even in their henna!

The wedding and cocktail hour were both outdoors and the reception was in the Asian and Ancient Arts gallery. As these galleries access spaces with African arts, Islamic Arts, Indian arts - it really was a perfect fit for their multicultural Indian & Ethiopian heritage. Not only that, but it felt authentic to them to support a museum - a community entity - that celebrates the beauty & artistry of so many cultures.

Their seven vows (or seven steps of saptapadi) were put into the fire - a symbolic way to incorporate Hindu tradition.

The start of Adam and Shiveta's multicultural wedding ceremony at Target Park MIA - dancing in their joint baraat — Total troopers in 80 degree weather!

We still kept to a sunset color scheme, and Adam & Shiveta asked their guests to wear a range of colors from pinks & peaches to reds & purples. We had a big joint baraat with all the guests parading from one end of Target Park to the other followed by a simplified ceremony that felt authentic and meaningful to both of them. Decor was kept simple - for the ceremony we added some draping and flower garlands to the existing structure, put some blooming flowerpots on stands, and accented the outdoor space with colorful pillows & tablecloths.

Cocktail hour had cocktails and mocktails that matched the sunset theme, and snacks of chutney sandwiches and misir rolls.

Planning & Decor @kahanieventdesign

Photography @mariahjoyphotography

HMUA @beautyloungemplsbride

Venue @artsmia

Flowers @ediflorial

DJ @djdigie

Video @zandoleemedia

Catering @theredseabar India House @hireahost

Fits @rabaniandrakha_official

Henna @kahanihenna

Rentals @apreseventandtent @britt.rental.co @rosebotanical @bbjlatavola @kahanieventdesign

For the reception we headed upstairs, to one big long community table which allowed for everyone to interact easily. A buffet of Indian and Ethiopian foods, with a homemade cake and a variety of ice creams (their fav) for dessert.

Inside we kept things a bit more museum like, but just a bit more colorful! Deep eggplant tablecloths, painting-like multicolored napkins, brass and wood artifacts on the tables, and accenting it all with bud vases assembled by Ediflorial.

I personally have a fondness for MIA, its one of my favorite spots in Minneapolis! So this wedding always stands out as a favorite.

Everyone was blown away Reena, Neither of our families can stop talking about it, it's really lovely. People were just astonished and happy and loved every bit - you did so great!